BOOM! STUDIOS

Dead Letters #2

Written by Christopher Sebela | Art by Chris Visions

"Issue #2 builds off the book's stellar debut, immediately diving into the nitty gritty of life after death. As Sam goes through God Squad orientation, we're treated to a series of flashbacks that explain not only how things are, but how they came to be. It's a bit of an info dump, yet Christopher Sebela's plotting is so well articulated that you're never left scratching your head. Sam's first mission is to pick up where the previous operative left off, working to find information that will help broker a peace treatise between ever-after power players Ma and Jones. Saying is obviously easier than doing, and it's apparent that even dead, Sam has his work cut out for him. Chris Visions' scratchy, frenetic style continues to impress, his layouts ridiculously inventive and just darn cool. Though there are still some confusing panels that can be tough to discern, the artist's pencils are so engaging that it rarely matters." -Jeff

Final Score:

8.4

The Woods #1

Written by James Tynion IV | Art by Michael Dialynas

"The Woods #1 is the perfect example of how to start a series. James Tynion IV spreads out his world building, the main conflict, and the core characters without overloading us with information. The dialogue is sharp, witty, and completely realistic. There's a Morning Glories feel to this issue, so the series will no doubt find a solid fan base. The Woods #1 is a series with a lot of potential and just about hits a home run with this debut issue." -Jess

Final Score:

8.7

DARK HORSE COMICS

Veil #3

Written by Greg Rucka | Art by Tony Fejzula

"Veil is a pretty unusual comic by any standard, but certainly for a writer like Greg Rucka. But that uniqueness is a major part of this comic’s appeal. Rucka continues his plunge into horror and the supernatural, slowly revealing more about his new heroine and her nature while also building up a man who could either be her great nemesis or a vital source of answers. Or both. As with previous issues, Rucka wisely knows when to step back and let Tony Fejzula’s art handle all the storytelling. Fejzula’s abstract, angular style and dynamic camera angles are as responsible as anything for this book’s unique tone and feel. This is quickly shaping up to be Dark Horse’s best series, and one of the better and more inventive indie comics on the market right now." -Jesse

Final Score:

9.2

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

Red Sonja #9

Written by Gail Simone | Art by Walter Geovani

"Not only is Sonja up all night to get some, but she's willing to scale a castle to get it. Issue #9 picks up right where we left off as Sonja continues her quest to collect the six finest artisans in all the land. With the chef and beast master already acquired, Sonja's next targeted acquisition is that of Aneva, the adroitly monikered 'princess of pillowing.' This leads her to the Ritz Carlton of brothels, where we soon learn that even the ever assured Sonja can develop mumble mouth in the presence of hot bodies. Ah, relatable. Gail Simone's take on the character has been inspired since panel one, yet this issue shows a side of Sonja we've yet to see, one in which she envisions a life where she hadn't become 'The Devil.' This shift provides a poignant look at a character usually devoid of regret, and the moments shared between Sonja and Aneva are some of the best in the series thus far. With three artisans still to collect, expect three equally great issues on the horizon." -Jeff

Final Score:

9.0

IMAGE COMICS

Burn the Orphanage: Reign of Terror #1

Written by Daniel Freedman | Art by Sina Grace

"Early on, the appeal of Burn the Orphanage was pretty straightforward. If you had a nostalgia for early ‘90s beat-em-ups like Streets of Rage and Final Fight, Burn the Orphanage: Born to Lose #1 was the closest you’d probably ever get to a direct comic book adaptation. But over time, the series has evolved into something stranger and more ambitious. Creators Sina Grace and Daniel Freedman haven’t missed a beat with the short hiatus between Born to Lose and this new mini-series, Reign of Terror. It’s still as wacky and hyper-violent as ever." -Jesse

8.7

Fatale #22

Written by Ed Brubaker | Art by Sean Phillips

"Ed Brubaker finally gives us the long-awaited origin story of The Bishop and it is far from a disappointment. Fatale #22 is dark, evil and moody. Sean Phillips and Elizabeth Breitweiser are creating some of the best art ever seen in a comic book. They go from beautiful Jo, to creepy dead babies held up by a Lovecraftian monster seamlessly. With everything coming together, nothing short of pure excitement has been created for the confrontation between Jo and The Bishop's. Since the announcement that the series was ending, each issue has been bittersweet -- we can't wait to see how it ends, but with such golden storytelling, under no means do we want to actually reach the conclusion." -Jess

Final Score:

9.0

Madame Frankenstein #1

Written by Jamie S. Rich | Art by Megan Levens

"When you first open this book, you might believe that you are reading a black and white Archie Comic. However, what you are really in for is a horror story very similar to what you would expect from the title of this book. Jamie S. Rich, the writer, and Megan Levens, the artist, introduce us to Court, a young woman and socialite of the 1930s. While she seems pleasant enough, we quickly see her become a version of the famous monster implied in the title. This is accomplished through dramatic storytelling done up in a way you’d expect of the classic Universal Monster films, but it also uses brief flashbacks to effectively get the story across. What’s really creepy though, is the scientist of the story, Vincent Krall, who is shown to be in love with the 'monster' and wishes to 'teach her how to be a lady.' The whole thing is quite unsettling in a way that may be intentional, but could possibly open up a controversial can of worms. Some other elements of this story seem to come out of left field a bit, and the art could use a bit more texture and fluidity, but in the end, the second issue of this tale may be worth a look if only to see where the creators are going with it." -Mike

Final Score:

7.7

Nailbiter #1

Written by Joshua Williamson | Art by Mike Henderson

"Nailbiter #1 is a riveting debut that gets better with each read. Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson are in strong form, setting a mood and tone that sticks with you long after the final page is turned. Though the titular Nailbiter is more of a secondary character here, his presence nevertheless impacts the book and it's proceedings. This is one not to be missed." -Jeff

9.3

Rat Queens #6

Written by Kurtis Wiebe| Art by Roc Upchurch

"Fresh off a wildly enjoyable first arc (and a depressingly less enjoyable hiatus) Rat Queens returns with much aplomb. Once reviled, the Queens now find themselves in the town's good graces after stopping the attacking troll army. Of course, there's no such thing as a dull moment in Palisade, and it's not long before the Queens again find themselves in some sticky situations, fighting with everything from mushroom people (really) to each other. Across town, Sawyer continues his investigation into the disappearance of Lady Bernadette, leading him right into the tentacled clutches of He-Who-Can-Not-Be-Prounounced. Though issue #6 is mostly set up for the next arc, writer Kurtis Wiebe yet again manages to deftly marry over-the-top action and depraved hilarity with genuine character beats. On art, Roc Upchurch's kinetic style continues to dazzle, his characterization seemingly better with each panel. Basically, only a Gary would miss this issue." -Jeff

Final Score:

8.8

Real Heroes #2

By Bryan Hitch

"Real Heroes is taking an awfully long time to get to the point for a comic that’s essentially the superhero version of Galaxy Quest. While issue #2 begins moving the plot along, it’s as saddled with unnecessary dialogue and exposition as the first was. The characters remain generally unlikable, especially the thinly-veiled Robert Downey Jr. parody. Not to mention the frequent, pointless, even callous references to 9/11 in the script. And with Bryan Hitch’s artwork already showing signs of suffering from the monthly rid, there’s not a lot of hope that this series will make the improvements it needs." -Jesse

Final Score:

4.7

Revival #20

Written by Tim Seeley | Art by Mike Norton

"With each passing month, Revival just gets better and better. Everything is building up fabulously and if you aren't reading this, then you're missing out on something special. The scope of the 'Revivers' is getting bigger. Tim Seeley is juggling a lot of storylines but none get lost in the shuffle. Rhodey is a much-needed, fun addition to the cast and brings a new perspective to being a Reviver. It's an almost perfect issue that you'll re-read over and over." -Jess

Final Score:

9.0

ONI PRESS

The Sixth Gun #40

Written by Cullen Bunn | Art by Brian Hurtt

"Cullen Bunn's The Sixth Gun is getting more and more nerve-racking as we get closer to the finale. With 10 issues left of the entire series, it's expected that big things will start happening. Here, Becky does something that changes the landscape of the series as a whole and puts our characters in even more peril than before. Bunn is holding nothing back and clearly no one is safe. The Sixth Gun #40 is another exciting chapter of an enormously underrated series." -Jess